Soul songstress Aretha Franklin, a 1994 Kennedy Center honoree, arrives for the gala performance celebrating the Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004. Recipients at this year's 27th Kennedy Center Honors are actor, producer, writer and director Warren Beatty; husband-and-wife actors, writers and producers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee; singer and composer Elton John; soprano Joan Sutherland; and composer and conductor John Williams. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Aretha Franklin arrives at the annual Independence Day

President Bill Clinton and Mrs.Hillary Rodham Clintonapplaud the 1994 Kennedy Center Honors award recipients during a reception Sunday, Dec. 4, 1994 in the East Room of the White House. From left to right are songwriter Pete Seeger, director Harold Prince, composer Morton Gould, singer Aretha Franklin, actor Kirk Douglas and the Clintons. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

The recipients of the 1994 Kennedy center honors award attend a reception on Sunday, Dec. 4, 1994 in the East room of the White house in Washington. From left to right are songwriter Pete Geeger, director Harold Prince, composer Morton Gould, singer Aretha Franklin, and actor Krik Doughlas and the Clintons. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

The recipients of the 1994 Kennedy Center Honors award attend a reception in evening on Sunday, Dec. 4, 1994 in the East Room of the White House. From left to right are songwriter Pete Seeger, director Harold Prince, composer Morton Gould, singer Aretha Franklin, and actor Kirk Douglas. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

Singer Aretha Franklin listens to composer Morton Gould, as actor Kirk Douglas looks on following a dinner at the State Department in Washington Saturday, Dec. 3, 1994. The dinner was held to honor them as recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors of 1994. Also honored were songwriter Pete Seeger and Director Harold Prince. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

Actor Kirk Douglas, center, poses with family members for photographers on Saturday, Dec, 3, 1994 prior to a dinner at the State Department in Washington. Douglas is surrounded by , from left: son Michael; Eric; Peter's wife Lisa; actor Douglas; his wife Anne; Peter and Michael's son Cameron. The dinner was to honor him as a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors of 1994. Also honored were singer Aretha Franklin, Songwriter Pete Seeger, director Harold Prince and composer Morton Gould (AP Photo/ Doug Mills)

Actor Kirk Douglas, standing from left, singer Aretha Franklin, singer Peter Seeger and seated from left, director Harold Prince and composer Morton Gould pose for photographers on Saturday, Dec. 3, 1994 following a dinner at the State Department in Washington. The dinner was to honor them as recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors of 1994. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

Aretha Franklin, right, and her date Renald White pose for photographers prior to a dinner at the State Department, Saturday, Dec. 3, 1994, Washington, D.C. The dinner was to honor as a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors of 1994. Also honored were actor Kirk Douglas, Songwriter Pete Seeger, director Harold Prince and composer Morton Gould. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)

Singing legend Aretha Franklin brings down the house in the finale of

Rhythm and Blues singer Aretha Franklin performs at the inaugural gala for U.S. President Bill Clinton in Washington D.C. on Jan. 19, 1993. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

Clive Davis, head of Arista Records, holds an award presented to him for his contribution to the record industry at the annual Friars Club dinner held at New York's Waldorf-Astoria on June 6, 1992. Standing with Davis are, from left, lyricist Sammy Cahn and singers Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin. (AP Photo/Andrew Savulich)

Singers James Brown and Aretha Franklin perform at the Taboo night club in Detroit Saturday night, Jan. 11, 1987, for a show which was taped for airing on HBO. (AP Photo/Joe Kennedy)

Soul singer Aretha Franklin performs during the 47th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Ca. on Tuesday, April 8, 1975. (AP Photo)

Singer Aretha Franklin poses with her Grammy Award at the 17th Annual Grammy Award presentation in New York on March 3, 1975. The award is for her performance in

Soul singer Aretha Franklin is shown at a news conference on March 26, 1973. (AP Photo)

Mrs. Coretta King listens to a song by Aretha Franklin at Memphis Aug. 16, 1968 during Memorial Services for her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was killed here in April. The Memorial Service was part of the program of The Southern Christian Leadership Conference convention. (AP Photo)